Improvement in return steam-traps



2-sheets e-vsheeti 'T. E. MoNEILL. Return Steam-Trap.

No; 206,344. Patented July 23. 1878.

\I I a a UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEO THOMAS E. MCNEILTJ, OF NE\V YORK,J. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN RETURN STEAM-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,344, dated July 23,1878; application filed April 29, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. MCNEILL, of the city of New York, in theState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ReturnSteam-Traps, of which the following; is a specification:

The objects of my invention are to simplify the construction and improvethe operation of the valves and valve-shifting appliances of a returnsteam-trap, and to prevent the action of the check-valve between thesteampipes and the reservoir from being interfered with by the weight ofthe water in the reservoir. These objects I attain in the manner which Iwill now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side view, partly in section,of my improved stea1n-trap; Fig. 2, Sheet 2, a side view of a portion ofthe same with the moving parts in a different position and Fig. 3, adetached perspective view of part of the apparatus.

A represents a vessel or reservoir, with the interior of which, at thebottom, communicates a pipe, (1, having branches to and (t the formercommunicating with the boiler above the water-level, while the pipe (4communicates, through pipes a and a, with the coil or coils ofsteam-pipes to be drained.

The pipe a is provided with a check-valve, I), which is closed bypressure from the boiler, but opened by pressure from the vessel A,while in the branch which connects the pipes and a is a check-valve, b,which is closedby pressure from the vessel A, but opened by pressurefrom the steam-pipes connected with the pipe (a Within the vessel A isthe usual bucket or float, hung to an arm on the shaft (1, the latterpassing through the vessel, and being provided at its outer end with alever, 13, the long arm of which carries a weight, D, while a pin on itsshort arm enters a slot in a lever, B, pivoted in the center to a studon the vessel A.

The lever E carries two rolling weights, F F, each of which consists ofa spindle, 0, restin g upon the lever, and provided at each end with adisk, f, the weights F F being connected together by means of links g,adapted to the opposite ends of the spindles 0.

At the opposite ends of the lever E are inclined portions '27, theobject of which will be referred to hereinafter.

Through a slot in the lever E extends the upper end of an arm,'G, thelower end of which is secured to a spindle, m, which extends through andis adapted to bearings in a box, J, secured to a lug on the casin g ofthe vessel A.

The box J incloscs a chamber, :20, which communicates, through openingsprovided with valves 8 and s, with chambers c and w, the formercontained within a projection formed on the upper side of the box J,while the chamber 20 is contained in a projection formed on the underside of said box J.

The chamber 1; communicates with the steam-space of the boiler through apipe, M, and a chamber, to, communicates with the atmosphere or with asuitable receiving-vessel through a pipe, N, while the chamber :0 of the"alve-box con'nminicates, through a pipe, F, with the interior of thevessel A at the top of the same.

The spindle on within the valve-box is provided with two forked arms, 22, which en gage with collars on the stems of the valves 8 and s, sothat, as the arm G is vibrated and the spindle on rocked, the valves 8and s will be raised from or forced down into their seats.

The operation of the apparatusjs as follows: When the vessel A is filledwith water, the parts 1 re in the position shown in Fig. 1, the valve 8being closed and the valve 8 open, so that steam from the boiler hasfree access to the interior of the vessel A through the pipe M, chambers12 and w, and pipe 1.

The pressure of steam in the boiler and vessel A being equal, the waterwill flow by gravity from the vessel A and through the pipe a into theboiler.

As the level of the water in the vessel A gradually falls the bucketwill descend, and, through the medium of the shaft-d and lever D, willoperate the lever E, so as to cause the latter to turn on its pivot inthe direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, thus elevating the end 3 of thelever and the weight F, which rests thereon, the weight F remainingalmost quiescent, owing to the fact that it is close to the center ofthe lever E, where there is but little movement.

As the end 3 of the lever rises the spindle e of the weight F runs ontothe inclined portion i of this end of the lever, which thus acts as adetent, and prevents the weights from rolling until the lever E hasassumed about the position shown in Fig. 2. By this time the vessel A isnearly or quite empty, and as the weights roll down the inclined leverthe spindle c of the weight F strikes the upper end of the arm (lr witha force equal to the momentum acquired by both weights, F F. This causesarapid movement of the arm Gr in the direction of the arrow, thuseffecting the sudden seating of the valve 8 and unseating of the valve8.

The interior of the vesselA is now open to the atmosphere through thepipe I chambers aaud w, and pipe N, so that it is free to become filledwith the water from the pipe e and its connections.

As the pipe a communicates with the bottom of the vessel A, any steamwhich enters the latter from said pipe must pass through and impart heatto the water in the vessel beforeit can escape from the same, a largeamount of this steam being also condensed by this op eration and addedto the water.

Owing, however, to the fact that the checkvalve 1) is at or about thelevel of the top of the vessel A, the weight of the accumulated water inthe latter cannot exert any back press-' ure on the said valve, which,in consequence,

vIn carrying out my invention it is not abso-' lute] y necessary thatthe exact Form of valves and valve-operatin g appliances shown anddescribed should be used in every easefor instance, sliding valves mightbe used instead of plug-valves, as shown and described.

A light spring-catch or similar retaining device, which would serve tohold the weight at the end of the lever E until the latter had assumed acertain angle, might also be substituted for the inclined portions i ofthe lever E, and sliding weights may be used in place of the rollingweights, if desired.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a return steam-trap, ofthe valve-operating arm G, the pivoted lever E, under control of thebucket or float, and the rolling or sliding weights F F, adapted to thelever and connected to each other, all substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the pivoted lever E with the spindles e, disks f,and links g, all substantially as set forth. I

The combination of a rolling or sliding weight or weights with thepivoted lever E having at each end an inclined portion, 1', orequivalent retaining device, as described.

4. The combination of the reservoir A, the valve-box J, its chambers U,90, and in, pipes M, N, and 1?, and Valves 8 s, the arm G and and itsarms zz, and devices for vibrating said arm, all substantially asspecified.

5. The combination of the reservoir A of a steam-trapwith. an inlet-pipecommunicating with said reservoir at the bottom, but carried upward to apoint at, near, or above the level

